March 12th, 2010
I centered today’s fashion Friday around a reader’s request that I recently received:
Liz’s request: The outfits you have posted are so cute, but I couldn’t find any of the bridal shower outfits because I think they are too old! I’m trying to find a great outfit for my sister’s bridal shower, it is an april shower and I am the maid of honor– so I need to look good!
I probably am looking to spend $100-150 for the total look.
I am a pear shape, 5? 6?, medium length brown/reddish hair and not super comfortable with really short dresses/skirts. There will also be a lot of middle-aged older women from my parent’s church at the shower– so cute and trendy, but not risqué would be ideal.
Last but not least, the shower is in the Chicago area- so you never know what the temperature will be like. Probably anywhere from 55-70 or so. Thanks so much for any help you can offer!
I put together two different looks. My favorite is the colorful, yellow dress – but I love both of the outfits. With either of these outfits, you could wear them again and again. I hope this helps you out, Liz!
Dress from ModCloth
Sweater from Old Navy
Bracelet from Forever21
Wedges from Payless
Tunic Top from Anthropologie
Pants from Old Navy
Earrings from Forever21
Bracelet from Forever21
Pumps from Payless
1 Comment | In: Bridal Shower, Fashion and Beauty | tags: bridal shower outfit, spring bridal shower outfit. | #
March 9th, 2010
Image from Brides
PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com just keeps getting better and better. They have two new features that make finding a gently owned wedding dress super simple. Before I introduce you to these features let’s get real for a minute – the economy sucks and tons of people are without jobs or at risk of losing their jobs. It’s not the best time to plan a wedding; however, if you’re smart about your purchases and stick with budget-friendly options, you can plan a lovely wedding within your budget.
One of the ways to do this is to buy a dress from a website such as PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com. Some women feel funny about wearing a dress that someone else has worn – I have one thing to say to these women – get over it. You can find a designer dress – your dream dress – for half the price. If you can’t get past your irrational fear of wearing a dress that’s already been worn, there are plenty of dresses on this site that have never been worn. You just have to do some searching.
Okay…enough bragging about the website…let me tell you about the two new incredible features. The first feature allows you to get price reduction alerts. Let’s say that you find your dream dress but it’s still out of your price range. You can sign up to receive an e-mail as soon as the price drops. Many women will reduce the price if their dresses if they don’t sell in a timely manner.
The second feature that I seriously love is the ability to search for dresses within a specific location. Lots of brides want to try on a dress before purchasing it, and I completely understand that. You can deal with this in two ways. Find a seller near your hometown and ask to try on the dress before purchasing it or go to a local bridal shop and try on the dress or a similar silhouette dress to make sure you love how it looks.
I hope this amazing resource helps out and if it does, please write to me so I can hear your success story of finding a designer dress for less!
No Comments | In: Fashion and Beauty, Sponsored Posts | tags: preownedweddingdresses.com. | #
March 4th, 2010
I don’t know any girl who wouldn’t love one of these adorable, handmade wristlets from Kelly’s Keepsakes on Etsy. They’re only $16 and would make a great bridesmaid gift. Budget-friendly and beautiful – I love it!
Images from Kelly’s Keepsakes on Etsy
No Comments | In: Etsy Finds, Fashion and Beauty | tags: bridesmaid gift, clutch. | #
February 26th, 2010
This week I set out to find a cute spring rehearsal dinner outfit, but when I was done putting this one together, I realized that it could also be a great option for a summer rehearsal dinner. The best part about this outfit {in my opinion} is that it’s so adorable, that you’ll wear it over and over.
Dress from Anthropologie
Heels from Payless
Bobby Pins from Forever21
Earrings from Target
Bracelet from Target
No Comments | In: Fashion and Beauty | tags: spring rehearsal dinner outfit, summer rehearsal dinner outfit. | #
February 22nd, 2010
If you want to make a grand entrance, this is a beautiful wedding dress that will capture your guests’ attention.
Images from Brides
No Comments | In: Fashion and Beauty | tags: kenneth pool, wedding dress. | #
February 20th, 2010
Caitlin’s Question: I love your site and am a regular reader! I especially love your fashion advice, which is what I’m seeking now. I have this fabulous pair of red satin high heels (picture attached), and am looking for a dress to go with them. I would love to be able to find a navy or similar dark blue color. First, does that color combination work? (I am going to a 4th of July wedding this year, which is what really inspired that idea in the first place). Second, what are the rules about combining fabrics? Should I avoid a satin dress with satin shoes? Should I go for something simple and understated and use the shoes as a statement piece? I am tall and slim, and my hips are slightly wider than my top. My budget is fairly flexible but I would like to try to stay under $120. Any ideas?? Thanks for your input!!
April’s Answer: Hi Caitlin! Thanks for the compliments. I love your shoes. They remind me a lot of the shoes I wore on my wedding day. If you’re trying to pair them with a dress for a Fourth of July wedding, I would keep the dress simple – but not casual. A navy or dark blue dress would definitely work with those shoes, even if it wasn’t July Fourth. The dress needs to be dressy and sexy, because those shoes are both. I would stay away from cotton dresses and sun dresses. I love the dresses available from Victoria’s Secret. Below are three that I thought would go well with your shoes – it just depends what style you like the best.
Cailtlin’s Pumps
Images from Victoria’s Secret
2 Comments | In: Ask April, Fashion and Beauty | tags: fashion advice, fourth of july, navy dress, red pumps. | #
February 19th, 2010
I got two emails last week in response to the Fashion Friday post, and both were asking me to do a similar post this week. Both brides asked if I could find an entire bridesmaid outfit for less than $100, and I’m happy to say I found one under $70! I think it would be perfect for a spring wedding, especially if you’re using the color eggplant in your color palette.
Dress from Forever21
Necklace from Forever21
Clutch from Target
Heels from Target
No Comments | In: Fashion and Beauty | tags: spring bridesmaid outfit. | #
February 13th, 2010
Emma’s Question: Hi April! Love your blog!!! I have a quick question for you. I’m purchasing my bridesmaids dresses for them. I’m only having 3 bridesmaids and they’re all traveling a long way to come to my wedding. I don’t want them to have buy a dress too. My fiancé and I have budgeted for $150 per dress, but I hate all the bridesmaids dresses I’ve looked at so far. They’ll are plain and not right for my casual wedding next spring. Do you have any ideas for me?
April’s Answer: Thanks for the kind words! I definitely have some ideas for you. First, I just want to say that it’s really considerate of you to buy your bridesmaids’ dresses and with $150 per dress you’ll definitely be able to find something that fits your style. When you’re choosing dresses, think outside the box and don’t look at traditional bridesmaid dresses. I love Anthropologie dresses for bridesmaids. I’ve seen a couple pictures where the bride chose printed dresses and they’re adorable. For a casual spring wedding, I love the 5 dresses below from Anthropologie and they’re all under $150.
Images from Anthropologie
No Comments | In: Ask April, Fashion and Beauty | tags: bridesmaid dresses, casual spring wedding. | #
February 12th, 2010
This entire outfit costs less than many bridesmaid dresses. It would be a great outfit for bridesmaids to wear to a summer wedding near or at the beach. Want to help reduce the costs for your bridesmaids? Pick up the tab for the earrings and give them to your bridesmaids as their gifts.
Dress from Charlotte Russe
Earrings from Anthropologie
Necklace from Target
Heels from Dillard’s
1 Comment | In: Fashion and Beauty | tags: bridesmaid outfit, nautical bridesmaid dress, summer bridesmaid dress. | #
